Forgive me if this is the wrong sub-forum, but I think the show isn't so much paranormal as it is something with moral values and spiritual lessons.

My question is this: for those of you who have seen this show or know of it, do you think that we need such modern-day parables today for its sly commentary on racism, hatred, fear of those who are different (Communists then, probably would be Muslims now), and human nature in general?

It's not just a common theme on The Twilight Zone but on all Science Fiction programs. While primarily dealing with scientific possibilities or impossibilities, the writers use it as modern social commentaries, discussing the issues that society faces at the time of the show's production. Racisim, God, homosexuality..... Star Trek broke the bounds by having women on their crew in the first place. Then the later incarnations of the show went one further with a woman captain (Voyager), and a black captain (DS9). They deal with issues of love being more than just the physical interactions between man and woman (cleverly concealed behind androgenous lifeforms that inhabit either male or female hosts but still hold the same feelings). Babylon 5 (and to a lesser extent, Stargate SG:1 and Farscape and probably others too) have not been so subtle in their commentaries on politics. Genetic Cloning, Eugenics, nano-technology, they are all discussed in no small detail through the science-fiction genre. What does it mean to be "human"?, discussed through characterization of androids, holograms, and to a lesser extent, alien lifeforms. Biological warfare, discussed thorugh "super viruses" that destroy entire civilizations. Commercialization, male/female power structures (matriarchal systems). And this is just talking about television (science fiction books go even further).

As you might have noticed, I love science fiction

Regards, PA

Nobody else likes my thread. I also think the zombie genre (especially Romero's work) has a lot of good commentary in it, despite the common view of him just being a horror guy. Also the Star Wars saga, especially episodes 1-3 have a lot of social commentary, which you no doubt know. What about "The Stand" by King? That fits into the "super virus" idea. "I am Legend" is a classic. I guess the best thing about the Twilight Zone was that Rod Serling drew from a lot of other writers' stories, and, in fact, Richard Matheson was a big contributer to the show. I wish we had more people like him today. I've never been much of a Trekkie, but Star Wars follows along the same way, with a strong woman in Leia, and a strong black character in Lando (who also demonstrates redemption after giving them over to Vader), and I suppose interspecies relations, especially with Wookies, who always win. The Matrix is another. A big thing that Romero pointed out is that, in the face of overwhelming destruction, we still cannot overcome our petty differences and unite. And that, not aliens, zombies, viruses, or anything external, is what does us in. Like the episode of the Twilight Zone called "The Monsters are Due on Maple Street," where the aliens simply flick a couple lights and cause every human to turn on and kill one another. My favorite is the one where the alien crashes into the Mexican villiage and is killed, when all he wanted was to bring a cure for cancer. It has a great discussion on God and how we would treat Him if he were to come down ("they nailed him to a cross" is what the boy says). And really that says it all. Even if you don't believe in the story of Jesus, or Christianity at all, I think we can agree that if there was indeed a higher power, and that power came down today, we (collectively) would turn against that power before we fell and worshipped. I think I'm going to start a new thread on this, because I'm diverting from the original topic.

This thread was a good read... I use to watch Twilight Zone long time ago... back when I was too young to pick up on any of the things mentioned in this thread. I think I'm gonna try to watch some more episodes after readin this.

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[size=1]NO,i don't think we need modern day parables,people will only change if they choose to or seek it.When you read the bible the parables can be applied to today situations in most of them.Basically the same result will happen if you Choose not to change.Personally I think everyone of us choose to change one way or another, some
people call this maturity,I believe we all take a road to greater understanding and betterment. Some people are happy just the way they are , others like to help those of us
who aren't spiritually there.